ABUSE FROM DOCK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23130, 31 August 1938, Page 18

ABUSE FROM DOCK

SCUFFLE IN COURT ACCUSED OBJECTS TO REMAND [by TKLEGHAPn —OWN CORRESPONDENT] PALMERSTON NORTH, Tuesday Tho customary calm of the Magistrate's Court was broken this morning when a man who had been remanded, in response to inquiry by Mr. H. P. La wry, S.M., as to whether he had anything to say concerning a request by tho police that bail should not bo allowed, broke into a torrent of abuse. Robert Clarence Clarke, aged 21, labourer, charged with having stolen at Palmerston North on August 27 various articles valued at £2 Gs 6d, the property of Irwin Herbert Lucas, from a motor-car, was remanded until Monday on the application of Senior-Ser-geant J. Melntyre. Tho magistrate raised the question of bail, and Air. Mclntyre said he was opposed to that course as Clarke was already under tho supervision of tho probation officer for a term of threo years for theft. Asked if he had any comment to make, Clarke replied with a (low of abusive and obscene language. The efforts of_ a constable to restrain him, instead of quietening him, led to a repetition and a scuffle started in tho dock. The constable was having some difficulty, and a sergeant went to his aid. The Magistrate: Take him away. Clarke continued to speak as the two men ejected him from the dock, which had swayed under the strain, and bustled him from Court. The sound,s of a struggle could still bo heard as the man was being taken across tho corridor to an adjoining room. The incident was all over in a very short space of time and the Court was soon occupied with tho next case.